From the Audubon Society:

“Glass kills birds—… Decades of research by ornithologist Daniel Klem estimates up to a billion avian mortalities from North American buildings each year…

…the best-known causes of window strikes are skyscrapers and other large urban buildings encased in glass, which birds don’t perceive as solid objects.

But despite its scope, moves to solve the problem have been comparably small and slow.

…What has been needed to help make sweeping changes and hopefully inspire other states and cities to follow suit is federal legislation. Now, that could finally be happening.

Last week, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced a bird-safe-buildings bill in the Senate that would mandate all new federal renovations or construction to make at least 60 or 90 percent of their surfaces non-glass (except on historic landmarks). Any glass that is used would have to be fritted, screened, shaded, or UV-reflective, qualities proven to reduce bird collisions.

Other conditions include shielding outdoor lights and regularly surveying for stunned or dead birds…

The House counterpart to the Federal Bird Safe Building Act was drawn up by Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) …If the bills make it through both chambers of Congress, federal buildings could provide a model for states and cities to develop their own bird-safe legislation…

The bills aren’t done deals—they still have to survive various committees…

http://www.audubon.org/news/proposed-federal-law-could-save-countless-birds-death-glass

Announcing a Memorial Service for Kate Millett 

Former Feminist original, author, artist and visionary and Bowery neighbor.

November 9, 2-4pm Fourth Universalist Society Universalist Universal Church 160 Central Park West (at 76th Street).

Gloria Steinem said that Ms. Millett and “Sexual Politics” had sounded a call.

NYTimes: “Kate was brilliant, deep, and uncompromising,” she said in an email. “She wrote about the politics of male dominance, of owning women’s bodies as the means of reproduction, and made readers see this as basic to hierarchies of race and class. She was not just talking about unequal pay, but about woman-hatred in the highest places and among the most admired intellectuals. As Andrea Dworkin said, ‘The world was asleep, but Kate Millett woke it up.’ ”

 

Hurricanes. Fires. Earthquakes, Fierce Winds. Unseasonable warmth. New climate realities are being made daily, and NYC is not immune. Let’s keep moving on making our communities and universities more resilient.

On October 25^th, all are invited to help the Stanton Building Task Force and the Tishman Environment and Design Center (TEDC) at The New School take next steps toward return of a former community building. Located at the north end of Sara D Roosevelt Park in the center of lower Manhattan, the Stanton Building has great potential to create an all-ages space for community wellbeing and social resiliency, with a community climate action lab, a navigation desk for homeless community members and an emergency hub for times of disruption.

This community and curricular vision is taking the next step forward and your input is greatly valued! As Sandy’s 5th anniversary approaches, please take part in an innovating evening furthering the vision of a socially resilient community center with an educational agenda engaging today’s unprecedented challenges.

This free 2-hour event includes an overview and breakouts with community partners, faculty, students, and all interested in local climate action. All are welcome. RSVP.

Wednesday Oct 25^th from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at The New School, Wollman Hall (65 West 11th St).

Spanish and Chinese interpreters will be available. Refreshments are thanks to LES Ready.

Follow the Stanton Building! Your thoughts and Likes are welcome here  There’s News regarding commitments to restoring the building to the community here. Find an overview of recent progress here, which includes an update on new public restrooms, funded by Borough President Brewer and Council Member Chin.

Climate destabilization impacts community wellbeing in profound and lasting ways. Connect with the Stanton Building Task Force, which is led by Sara D Roosevelt Coalition, Green Map System and University Settlement, as well as Tishman Environment and Design Center .                                            #

It happened a while ago but still worth a peek:

Check out LUNGS inspired M’Finda Kalunga Garden’s Children’s Book Festival

For more info on other events: LUNGS- Loisaida United Neighborhood Gardens

TODAY is the deadline to register to vote in the coming city elections!

Chinese Progressive Association will set up a voter information and registration table in front of M’Finda Kalunga Community Garden on Oct 21.  We could give out information about Nov 7, 2017 election, help current voters with with absentee ballots, changing information

They will also register any new voters — but they won’t be able to vote until 2018!

October 21st from 12pm -4pm

Rivington Street between Chrystie and Forsyth

M’Finda Kalunga Garden

Even though it sometimes means you may have to deal with confused people…

Organized by Citizen’s for NYC

They moved heavy bags of mulch & stones. Weeded, planted, pruned, removed garbage, raked, & wielded pitch forks!

Thank you Bloomingdales and Citizen’s for NYC!

Before:

During:

After:

And thank you to the Guys who were Allies for Girls Day:

Steve Elson schlepping bags of stones, our two PEP officers, Ralph Musolino of Parks Department and his staff Don and others ,and, of course, SDR’s heart and soul: Bob Humber and our hard working Citizen’s for NYC Development Volunteer Coordinator Andrew Rohrberger!

NYTimes:

“Go to any major chain supermarket and think about that tower of perfectly stacked, impeccable oranges or tomatoes, and understand that the supermarket by design has already figured and costed-out the fact — the immutable fact — that they will throw 30 percent in the garbage just so it will look cool,” he said. “This is horrifying.”

Chef Danny Bowien stars with Mr. Bourdain in their new film, “Wasted: The Story of Food Waste,”

BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA

17 Goals to Transform Our World

United Nations:

Climate change is now affecting every country on every continent. It is disrupting national economies and affecting lives, costing people, communities and countries dearly today and even more tomorrow.

People are experiencing the significant impacts of climate change, which include changing weather patterns, rising sea level, and more extreme weather events. The greenhouse gas emissions from human activities are driving climate change and continue to rise. They are now at their highest levels in history. Without action, the world’s average surface temperature is projected to rise over the 21st century and is likely to surpass 3 degrees Celsius this century—with some areas of the world expected to warm even more. The poorest and most vulnerable people are being affected the most.

Affordable, scalable solutions are now available to enable countries to leapfrog to cleaner, more resilient economies. The pace of change is quickening as more people are turning to renewable energy and a range of other measures that will reduce emissions and increase adaptation efforts.

But climate change is a global challenge that does not respect national borders. Emissions anywhere affect people everywhere. It is an issue that requires solutions that need to be coordinated at the international level and it requires international cooperation to help developing countries move toward a low-carbon economy.

To address climate change, countries adopted the Paris Agreement at the COP21 in Paris on 12 December 2015. The Agreement entered into force less than a year later. In the agreement, all countries agreed to work to limit global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius, and given the grave risks, to strive for 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Implementation of the Paris Agreement is essential for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, and provides a roadmap for climate actions that will reduce emissions and build climate resilience.